My Pool
This Poet Swimming Laps
The early sun peeks through the cloud bank
“Thank God it might warm up the water”
The light sparkles on the ripples
that the jets shoot across the pool.
They twist in sinewy sea serpent shapes,
while my forearms cover themselves in bumps…
“Oh My God….. it’s so cold”
But I’m in the water up to my neck now,
determined to swim that mile.
Confident that 10 laps make 120 meters
100 laps will bring me to the mile.
The breaststroke is a nice beginning
The heart just kicks in little by little..
I hardly feel a thing..
The water is so clear,
I could count the little Moroccan tiles
the color of a Tangier mosque design,
if I open my eyes, but I just peek now and then.
I don’t have to see where I’m going…I know
9 strokes take me to the other side.
I just count 1 -2 -3..the other side is odd where I start is always even…
odd and even, I start thinking about odds..
What are the odds?…
I saw a colony of Leaf Cutter Ants
carrying leaves along the border of the pool..the odd side
where ants march daringly,
right on the border, I mean what are the odds?
I would see them a year from now..
what are the odds I’ll still be alive?
I allow myself to rest 5 seconds for observing but only after
9 on the odd side where the ants march
“Some are such slouchers,they carry tiny flowers,
while others haul leaves the size of a house”
5 seconds are up..one more breaststroke..10 laps equal 120 meters
I will be 1/10 through… and it seems a long way off!
I’m feeling good and turn it on with a fast long stroked crawl..
free stroking, reaching for the other side,
my mouth barely surfacing on the left,
two long strokes… now right..hauling in the oxygen
while skimming the surface, half my chin submerged.
Light and water were made to play togethe,and
I am streaking undulation ..up for air, down for speed..
but so imperceptibly…
you just see me glide silently/
600 meters and I’m on my back..long back stroke,
hoping my shoulders hold;
the sun plays orange and red fire on my eyelids.
The trees branches cut the light, adding their shadow but just on one side.
I think of 20 things that must be done…
My mind falls into shopping lists and unanswered emails
Boring!
but I also ponder if dead people visit swimmers?
because we are so spaced..
in that zone that dreamers and mediums go to..
7- 8 on the boring even side..then back to 9 and I know the ants are there..
but I turn under water and pretend I don’t.
Another 10 and I cheat with a side stroke.. then back to the crawl..my heart is a locomotive…
It’s a Swiss time piece;
its a Grandfather clock-click with the rhythm of a teen.
and it only chimes at 1200 meters.!!
Cold? There is no cold.
I am warm and I heat the water as I move through it..
I am like an electric piston, and a watermill,..
a solar heating system with my arms going round and round.
1000 meters I am almost there..just 20 laps,
I have lost my sense of time..just lost in this stream of thoughts
of strokes of everything,
on spinal chord remote…
my brain shut down to just pump blood to those shoulders these arms stronger but straining.
Now… I am on the last stretch,
a quick change -up and I finish on 2 laps of the fastest crawl I can do..
my heart is pumping pumping, pumping….
“I can do it I can do it I will do it”
There!!!!…
I throw my self backwards..and float and say,
“Alhamdulillah for this day”
“Alhamdulillah for this pool,
“Alhamdulillah for my health”
“Alhamdulillah for my Life”
that I am able to swim ….
and the light dances on my eyelids..
and the endorphins swim up and down my bloodstream
and I am so grateful!!
and then, I pull myself out of the pool..
EXHAUSTED…
Earth’s gravity is not my friend..
and grab my cane.
I might limp the next 30 meters to my shower.
But…….ahhhhhhhh..
I just swam one glorious mile!🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️
Karima Hoisan
July 27, 2021
Costa Rica
Digital Rabbit Hole 
Wow, love this, it’s like we’re right there in the water with you! And the ants 🙂 those slackers just carrying tiny flowers, haha. Thanks for sharing all of this, so clearly and well.
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Thanks so much Dale. for your appreciation and thank you too for letting me run it by you, when I was about half-way through. It means a lot..I was very unsure if I would post it (like all my rare long pieces) and you gave me that extra push of confidence.:) Was lovely to have you along for my swim:)
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What a magnificent piece Karima. Your verse is so powerful that it caries us with you all the way.
Excellent sweetheart.
xoxoxo
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Good morning Beauty!! Thank you so much for also making me feel that posting this, was the right decision..The idea came, of course, while I was swimming, but not all my ideas are good ones..smiles* so I am thrilled you loved this long tale of swimming laps:) I’m counting the days when I can order your book:):) ❤️🤗🙏🌹🌟🌺
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Good morning sweetheart. It certainly was a great idea. You took us with you. Your talent is beyond Karima. Thank you for such a great swim. Enjoy the rest of your day ❤️🥰🌹❤️🥰🌹
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WOW WOW WOW, my dear Karima!!! This has to be one of my favorites of yours…what a stunningly beautiful piece! The imagery, the attention to detail and the breathtaking flow is such a blessing to read! What I love about this piece is that I could read it a hundred times and a get a new meaning every single time…that’s the work of an incredibly talented writer!!! You are such an inspiration and gift! Keep up this lovely work, I know you always will 🖤🤗
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Ace?? Really?? Wow I am blown away that you Loved this piece.”one of you favorites”..says mountains to me.. Thank you thank you for your incredible words.. Really I just tried to take you in my head when that automatic state kicks in and one is almost meditating while swimming.. Going a little free -associative, but also in a bubble of bliss.
I was truly wondering if I could even pull that off and you just told me…I did!!! Thank you for all your accolades about my writing…you know I can throw them rightback to you..my talented PUBLISHED poet friend!!❤️🤗🌹🌟🌺🙏
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Oh yes, my dear Karima! I truly mean every single word!! Of course, it’s my pleasure to support you and your beautiful work. I love that…”free associative and bubble of bliss”…that’s the beauty of YOU – always a perfect purpose and meaningful flow behind al that you do! You absolutely pulled it off, 1,000%!!!! Aww ☺️, you are so sweet! Thank you for being such an amazing friend 🖤🤗
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Big big hugs dearest Ace!!…You are The Best!!!❤️🤗🙏
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Wow, Karima. That was very nice!
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Thank you so much Vignesh for your positive comment! I am so glad you enjoyed it:)🙏🏊♀️🦋
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My pleasure Karima 🙂
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Oh my, so vivid, I feel exhausted and exhilarated with you 😀 It’s much the same for me when I get out of the gym, every time. Especially in the morning because I feel all that energy for the rest of the day ❤
Hugs!
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Awww Joey, what a wonderful surprise to find your comment today…when I got out of the pool:) 🏊♀️ Yes I am sure it must be the same.. the release of endorphins is the prize for exercising..and yes it’s a super energizer all day long!! So glad you could relate to my piece…Big HUGS!
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Wow! What a poem, Karima! It’s a bit longer one, but keeps one captivated throughout with minute details like water, sun, tiles, shopping list, mails, and endorphin. That’s the talent you have my friend. I think, you are a good swimmer apart from being a good human being. All the best! Stay blessed 😊💐💗🙏
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Thank you Kaushal!!! Yes it’s long!! I always worry a bit about that, as I almost never write long poems …a recent exception was Nightmare in Yellow…Thank you so much for swimming along through shopping lists, water and sun and endorphins:) I am so glad you stayed captivated:) This put the biggest smile on my face.. InshAllah I am a good person…I try to be and yes..I think I am a good swimmer but never competed..just swam for my health and mobility… Bless you and your always generous comments 🙏❤️🤗🌟
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Bravo, my friend. A beautiful piece. I get so much from this beautiful work – awareness, space, no space, resilience, love, affinity, connection, reflection, manifestation, so so much. Thank you from taking us on this blissful journey, dear Karima. I love this poem, my friend. ❤️🙏🤗🌺✨
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Thank you so much Jeff..you swam in the deep end of my words!! How cool is that?? Yes, resilience, connection, reflection,..are all going on when one gets into the lap zone:) Awww am so pleased you love my journey and that you went right along with me…Thank you my dear friend…This means a lot!! 🙏🏊♀️🤗❤️🏊♀️🌈🌹
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Yes! That is exactly so, I did indeed! Was so wonderful to be there with you! How lovely. You are most welcome, dear Karima. Always, always. ❤🌊🦋✨🙏
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Ohhhhh Ruca!!!
This is fabulous! You absolutely nailed it. From the beginning cold hesitations. To the slow warming breaststroke. Contemplating the ants. ( Did you know Mark Twain contemplated ants?) The math! Getting warm! The heart turning into a locomotive. The ending crawl sprint. Any swimmer totally relates to these beautiful musings of yours. This makes me long for the water!
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Oh Ruco….I was waiting for you to find this one…as a swimmer I knew you knew:) The mind goes into a free trance-like meditative state..where thoughts come and go..but you are in the swimming zone…locked in a rhythm a routine that allows you to soar inside…. Thank you Ruco for your wonderful comment…I was hoping you would like and relate to this one :):) 🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️
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Wow Karima… Like Ace, I was just blown away!!! You were writing about yourself swimming.. Yet I felt I was the one in the pool!! That’s the power of your writing, Habibti! I love swimming too. And I could actually feel every word..
Stay blessed and have a beautiful day always ❤️❤️🌹🙏🤗
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Awww habeebity..Thank you! That I could bring you so vividly in the pool is the greatest of compliments!! Ahh you are a fellow swimmer….then you know very well that magical zone we go to:):) Be Blessed and inspired sweet Diana and swim when you can:):) 🙏❤️🤗🏊♀️🌟
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I don’t have a pool, but I have a shower! I can only doggie paddle in there and I can do 20 laps around it before my hair even gets wet!
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Hehe…but I bet you feel good when you get out:)🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️
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I just love this beautiful piece, we are swimming along with you, holding our breath and sneaking looks at the beautiful tile. I love the detail, it is all about the detail. The ants touched my heart because I can just visualize the distraction yet the curiosity. This is so beautiful Karima. Such a mindful peaceful yet active piece all at the same time. Sending you so much love, Joni
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Aww thank you Joni and glad to see you back!! Funny thing, that day, I was thinking of writing a poem trying to capture the laps and I sort of talked myself out of it…but then I ran the idea past a friend, and he really loved the idea..so I allowed myself to do it..I am so glad that it captivated you in this way..and yes it Is all in the details when you are slipping into a lap trance..or any kind of focused moment…Thank you o seeing so much in my poem..Glad you came along with me ❤️🤗🙏🌹🏊♀️🌟💐
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I couldn’t wait to read one of your pieces. I thought this was extremely cleaver and held my attention. I began to feel like I was the one swimming and the photo in the beginning set the stage too. I really enjoyed it. You are very talented and creative. I really liked this detail and how you wrote your observations. Really a lovely piece. I was captivated by the ants. Taking a peek every once and a while. You definitely took us there. ❤️
Sending my love and prayers your way. ❤️🤗😘💕🙏🦋🦋🥰 Joni
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Thank you again for coming to swim with me…What joy!!🏊♀️🏊♀️❤️❤️🌈🌈
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First of all, swimming training seen through the eyes of a poet, is something only you can write it.
On the other hand, how you describe the feelings, all the details on the edge and what goes through your head when you move, so to speak, automatically, for you it’s swimming, for me it was cycling, is so clear and true.
In the morning, when the world is not yet turning, when the sun is still low, but already gives the promise of warmth, when the cool air of the morning pulls up your back and gives you goose bumps, then there is only you and your goal.
And you know that you have to fight to achieve your goal.
Almost with your last breath you reach your goal.
And that is the victory over time and space, the victory of the will over all inadequacies.
All that you are telling us with your inimitable words.
And I really love it!
Hugs
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Big hugs Nat!! I love this comment too, because yes as a cyclist for so many years..someone who lived cycling even to work and back and for fun and for sport./…Yes You KNOW.!! It makes me feel close to you..to think that this poem started those wheels spinning (literally) and taking you back to your own-in-the-zone memories. That is so cool! Thank you for taking the time to leave me this comment!. It is a very special one for me because it comes from you..from The Team!! I know you and I right now are looking forward to the days in the futrure, when you can tell me about your bike ride and I can share my latest swimming story. BIG HUGS NAT… Inshallah we will do this and so much more!!!❤️🤗🚴♀️🏊♀️❤️🤗 THE TEAM FOREVER!!!
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Love this soo much habeebity ❤️ I am not a swimmer but felt like swimming along with you for a while🥰❤️❣️
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Aww you made my day habeebity! That’s what I was trying to do…put the reader inside the pool:) So glad you were swimming along by my side:) I wish you could come…would be good water therapy❤️🤗🏊♀️🦋🌹🌟
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Fantastic! Great title. This poem has a lot of oomph!
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Yes, lots of energy to this. Just like actually swimming. You made the poem feel like what it describes, which is so nice!
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Thank you Ben..I set out to try to do that…click into that free flow lap loop mindset.. I am glad you felt it too:):)🏊♀️🏊♀️🏊♀️
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I did feel it. Yes, it had that swimming flow! 🙂
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Pingback: This Poet Swimming Laps — Digital Rabbit Hole - Marin Reiki
I like your poem so much. Thanks for sharing with us!
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Thank you for visiting my blog and enjoying it:)
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This is so inspiring. Thank you. I would like to share this with our young swimmers in our club if you don’t mind. Blessings from South Africa
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Oh Thank you and of course you can share this..I love the idea of young swimmers reading it:):) That’s very special for me. I do hope they enjoy it too:) Karima
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